Display-case.



D. R. SLATER.

DISPLAY CASE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.10,1914.

1,1 18,690. Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

DAVID R. SLATER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DISPLAY-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24, 1914.

Application filed January 10, 1914. Serial No. 811,376.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DAVID R. SLATER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Display-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This inventiongrelates to improvements in display cases and more particularly to means by which theulids thereof maybe raised by the use of the foot thereby leavingthe hands free for other purposes.

The present invention is particularly adapted to display casesof all-glass-construction, the principal object being to improve the operatingmechanism to adapt it for this style case.

Another object is to provide means for cushioning the fall of the lid in case the foot slips fromthe operatingtreadle and by the same means enable the lids to be held open at any desired angle without keeping thefoot on the treadle.

Another object is to provide an improved latch which prevents the lids from being raised by a person standing in front of the case.

' Other objects are: to provide a balancing spring,.which will prevent a twisting strain being produced in the glass when the lid is opened, and to provide means for hinging the lid to the frame and the operating mechanism to thelid, which will necessitate tlie making of as few holesas possible in the g ass.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the new and novel construction and arrangement of parts as herein described and pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference should be had to the drawings forming a part of this specification wherein, Figure 1 is a view in; perspective of the top part of a display case showing two lids hinged thereto and the operating mechanism connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a view in section of a case with my improved operating device connected thereto. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation of the spring balancingmember used in connection with in device. Fi 4 is a view in ers ective of the hinge used therewith showing the parts separated. Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section of the lower end of the operating rod 'inits normal position or when the lid is closed. Fig. 6 is anenlarged fragmentary view of the same when the lid is raised. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view on 7 7 Fig. 5.

Denoting corresponding parts, by the same numerals of reference 1 is the display case having a base 2, glass front 3, ends 4-, lids 5, and sliding back doors 6. Acontinuous molding .7 embraces the topedge of the front and. sides and is attached to the rear molding 8, thus serving to hold the parts of the case together. This molding is also provided with an inwardly extending lip 9 wherein is a cushion 10 of felt or rubberto serve as a seat for the lid when the latter is closed. An intermediatesupport 11 is provided, which is attached to the rear molding as at 12, and to the underside of lip 9 as at 13.

. The lid is attached to the rear molding bya hinge composed of parts 14 and 15, pivoted on the pintle 16, the former consisting of a rectangular plate 17 having eyes 18 and attached to the molding 8 by screws 19, and the latter consists of an elongated strip 20 having a widened end 21 and eyes 22 in the recesses between which fit the eyes 18 of member 14. Adjacent these eyes is formed an upstanding L-shaped lug 23, which is adapted to embrace the rear edge of the glass lid so that the only other holding. means necessary is a single bolt Z-fit passing through a hole in the glassand a hole 24L in the outer end of strip 20. Each lid is fitted in like manner with a hinge adjacent each side thereof and on the underside of the hinge members 15 is formed a depending lug26, towhich on one side is pivoted the operating rod 27 and on the other side is pivoted aspring supporting rod 28. The latter is slidably mounted in a hole through guide bracket 29 attached to the molding .8 and has threaded on its upper end an adjusting nut 30. A compres sion spring 31 is interposed between this nut and the bracket 29, and when the lid is closed this spring tends to open the same being so adjusted that it supports about half the weight of the lid.

Mounted in the base 2 is a thimble 32 havingthe inwardlyflanged ends 33 and 34, which serve as a guide for the tube 35 attached to the lower end of the operating rod 27. In threaded engagement with the upper end of this tube is a nut 36. Between the latter and theflanged end 33 of thimble 32 is a compression spring 37 which acts the same as spring 31 in supporting part of the weight of the lid. In the annular space within thimble 32 and abuttingagainst the flanges 33 and is mounted a compression spring 38 whose function is hereinafter described.

' lVithin the lower end of tube is a short rod 39, having a limited sliding movement by reason of the pin 4-0, which passes therethrough and engages slots 4-1 in the walls of tube 35. 1.x spring within tube 35 abuts against the lower end of rod. 27 and the upper end of rod 39 holding pin 40 normally in contact with the lower end of the slot ll. Surrounding pin elO at right angles thereto is slot 43 extending through rod 39 and pivotally mounted therein on the pin are pawls li. In alinement. with this slot are angular-1y disposed holes 45 in tube 35 in which holes the pawls 4a are held the limited movement of 39 within tube 35 not permitting them to ,be entirely drawn into the slot 44.

An L-shaped operating lever a6 is pivotally mounted as at l? to the base of the case and has a rod 46" projecting from the rear line thereof so that it may be readily pressed by the foot. The other end of the lever con tacts: with the lower part of rod 39 and when the end 46 is depressed the parts he disposed as in Fig. 5 the operation is as In foTlows-s-Rod 39 is moved upwardly thelimit of slots 41, which movement draws the pawls into holes l5 as shown in Fig. 6, which allows the tube 35 to move upward when the pin 40 reaches the end of the slot. This tube being connected to the operating rod-27 moves the latter and so raises the lid. This action requires little effort by reason ofjsprings 31 and 37 supporting a large part of the weight. It will also be evident that if. spring 31L is adjusted to take half the weight of the lid the other half will be supplied by the operating rod and no twisting strains will be produced in the glass forming thielidi' Now in case it is desired to main tain the lid atsome angle it is opened a little farther than the desired angle and then held by the hand while. the foot is removed from 46'. This allows spring at), to force down rod39' carrying pawls 44, which are thus extended to a horizontal position through holes 45 and contact with the intermediate coils ofspring 38. When the lid is lowered the compression of this spring soon overcomes the weight and prevents further closure. 'In like manner if the foot is suddenlyreleased from the lever l6 while the lid israised, the sameextension of the pawls takes place and the spring 42 engaged beforethe lidhas. fallen very far, thus cushionin the fall and preventing breaking of the. g ass.

When thepartsware. intheir normal position as shown in Fig. 5' it will be evident that if the lid is raised rod 27 will pull up on tube 35, in which case no relative movement takes place between rod 39 and the tube. Hence the pawls will remain. extended and contact with the underside of flange 34: and prevent further upward movement affording a simple and effective lock.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention it will of course be understood that minor changes may bemade in details and construction without departing from the spirit thereof.

i l hat I claim and wishto cover by Letters Patent is 1. The combination ina display caseand a top lid therefor, hinges attaching said top to said case, an upstanding L-shaped lug on the movable leaf of. said. hinges, said lug embracing the rear-edge of said top for the purposev of securing the same to the hinge, a rod pivotally secured to the undersideof one of said movablehinge members, a thinlble through the bottom. of said case, said rod extending through said thimble, a foot lever pivotally mounted undersaid case, said foot lever being adapted to engage the lower end of said, rod, locking. means a carried by said lower, end to prevent the said lid from being raised fromthe outsideof the case, and spring means pivotally attached to the other of said movablehinge members for the purpose of securing. an even lift on both sides of said lid when-the latter is raised.

2. The combinationin' a display case. and; hinged top lid, of a rod pivotally secured to the underside vof said lid, :1. thimble through the bottom of said-case, a tube attached to the lower end of said rod, said tube passing through said thimble, a rod mounted in the lower end of saidtube and. having a limited sliding movement therein, pawls pivotally mounted in a. slot in said last mentioned rod, openings in said tube alining with said slot, the said pawls extending into said openings, spring means:- between said first mentioned rod andsaid secondmentioned rod whereby the latter is held in its lower limited position and-the pawls extended to formilocking. means, a foot lever carried by the saidcaseadapted toengage the lower end of said last mentioned rod whereby pressure thereon will move said rod relative to said containing tube whereby said vpawlsv will bedrawn into said openings permitting said lid'to be raised by continued pressure upon said rod.

3. The combination in a display caseand hinged lid therefor, of av downwardly: extending rod pivotally secured to said lid,athimble through the bottompfsaidcase, said rod extending into said thimble, a tube mounted on the lower end of: said rod,

flanged ends onsaid thi nble anwannular space between said thimble. and said, tube,--;

latter projecting into said slots for the purpose of limiting the movement of said last mentioned rod, an opening therethrough, pawls pivotally mounted on said'pin in said opening, angularly disposed holes in said tube alining with said opening, the

ends of said pawls being held in saidholes,

a foot lever pivotally mounted under said case, said lever being adapted to contact with the lower end of said last mentioned rod, spring means for holding said last mentioned rod in its lowest position and said pawls extended through said holes, said pawls being drawn into said holes during the upward movement of said rods and said pawls being adapted to engage said spiral spring when the said foot lever is quickly released and thus prevents the closing of said lid. 1

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID R. SLATER.

Witnesses:

VICTOR A. Knnmnz, CHARLES J. GRoH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents,

Wilmington, D. 0." 

